Gather the Things You Need to Start Knitting

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Do you want to knit? Do you want to create knitted projects like shirts, socks, hats, purses, and even iPod cases? Well, then read the step by step article below, and you'll get started. These things are the most basic things you actually need to create basic things.

Steps

  1. Restrict yourself to one or two skeins of yarn and one or two pairs of needles. It's easy to go overboard and buy tons of yarn and needles, but since you're just starting out, better to be on the cautious side.
  2. Choose your yarn carefully, because each type of project you make needs a specific type of yarn: super fine (thinnest type of yarn), fine, light, medium, bulky, and super bulky (thickest type of yarn). The reason for this is, for example, if you are making a large purse, you would need the yarn to be medium to super bulky. So to make the rest of the long story short, the size of your yarn depends on the size of the project. To start out choose basic yarn, nothing frilly or textured. This will be easiest to knit with for a beginner. Medium to bulky weights will be easy to see and easy to manipulate as well.
  3. Get the appropriate knitting needles. Now, you might be saying, "Oh, I can just use my chopsticks! Why do I have to spend extra money on some sticks?". Well, you are a bit wrong. You will soon find that knitting with chopsticks is very frustrating, as your stitches will slip off the end and get stuck in the wood. For your first needles consider:
    • Size: Make sure you match your needles (within one size) to your yarn. Read the label on the yarn you select and buy the needle size it suggests. Otherwise you will end up with extremely holy or extremely tight yarn. It's good to start out with size eight or large needles, because thicker yarn is easier to start with.
    • Material: You will only gain a preference after you try lots of needles. To start out, try plastic or wooden or bamboo needles. The stitches will tend to stay on these needles, unlike metal which they will slip off easily. (This is a problem for beginning knitters everywhere...)
    • Type: Mostly likely you are starting out with a two dimensional, flat knitting project as a beginner. For this you will need straight needles (two sticks). Steer clear of the circular needles and double pointed needles for now.
  4. Get a yarn needle (or tapestry needle). "What is a yarn needle?" you may ask. Well, a yarn needle is a small needle that you use to weave in extra thread that hangs off of your finished project. They are cheap, and will help finished project to look neater, and more professional. If you don't buy yarn needles, you can cut them with scissors, but this will leave a small piece of yarn sticking out from where you cut with the scissors. It's your choice!
  5. Put all of your new knitting accessories in a serious knitter's tote to keep them all together. This way whenever you want to go somewhere and bring your knitting, it's all in one place. You may want to include:
    • A small cloth bag to keep doodads in such as yarn needles. (A plastic bag will get poked to shreds.)
    • A folder for patterns and yarn labels.
    • Large Ziploc bags for keeping knitting projects separate.

Tips

  • Let's say, you were using your yarn, and you were knitting a shirt, when suddenly, your yarn ran out. When you go to the store, there are many yarns that have colors that are very very similar to the one you used. When you want the exact color, look on your yarn label and find the "Dye Lot". An example dye lot would be 255, or 184. Write down the number, and go to the store to find the yarn that has a matching "Dye Lot" number.
  • Beginners kits usually have a good number of useful and necessary doodads and a couple pair of needles that will provide you with everything you need besides yarn.
  • If you were unaware that you needles a yarn needle, you can use a straightened out paperclip with a loop in one side as a makeshift replacement. It's no substitute for a good yarn needle though.
  • You also may want to buy stitch holders for marking your place in patterns; a crochet hook for fixing mistakes; a measuring tape for making gauge swatches; cable needles; a needle gauge; needle toppers for keeping stitches from slipping off; a small portable pair of scissors; and other oddments once you get bit by the knitting bug.

Warnings

  • Always keep the label of the yarn you bought. There are many things written on the label that you will need to know/do when you are using your yarn.

Things You'll Need

  • Yarn--keep the yarn label
  • Knitting needles
  • Yarn needle (tapestry needle)
  • Tote bag (optional)

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